Patna: A youth was killed after being shot during an idol immersion procession in Patna City on Wednesday night, following a reported dispute between two groups of youths over music.
The incident occurred around 9.30pm on Ashok Rajpath, near the Sales Tax Office and Pashchim Darwaza, within the jurisdiction of Khajekalan police station.
The victim, identified in one account as 20-year-old Kundan Kumar, sustained a gunshot wound and was rushed to hospital by people present at the scene. Despite medical treatment, he died from his injuries.
Kundan was identified as son of Nagendra Thakur, a resident of Tikiya Toli in the Khajekalan police station area.
Dispute During Immersion Procession
According to preliminary information, an argument broke out between two groups of youths over the playing of music during the procession. The verbal dispute reportedly escalated into a physical altercation, creating panic among people attending the religious event.
City SP (East) Shailja said preliminary investigations suggested that the shooting was carried out by a member of an organising committee. Police are also examining a possible dispute involving members of a puja committee.
DSP Shiv Shankar Kumar confirmed that an investigation was under way and that the police were questioning the victim’s family.
Procession Briefly Halted
The shooting triggered commotion in the area, briefly interrupting the idol immersion procession. There were allegations that an orchestra trolley carrying a musical troupe had been vandalised, although the police denied that any such vandalism had taken place.
The DSP drove a vehicle carrying an idol to the side of the road as the police worked to restore order. The immersion of the idols was subsequently completed peacefully.
The police investigation is under way.
